Choosing the Right Care Level
Choosing the right level of care for depression depends significantly on symptom severity.
Mild symptoms
Self-help strategies, lifestyle changes, and brief counseling are often reasonable starting points.
Moderate symptoms
Structured therapy, and sometimes medication, are commonly recommended at this level.
Severe symptoms
Psychiatric evaluation, often combining medication and therapy, is generally recommended promptly at this level.
Key takeawayDepression care should scale with symptom severity, from self-help strategies for mild symptoms to prompt psychiatric evaluation for severe symptoms.
Helpful next steps
Depression self-help book
Evidence-based coping strategies.
This content is for general educational purposes only. PHQ-9 is a validated screening tool, not a diagnosis. If you are having thoughts of self-harm, please call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) immediately.